Car-coupling.



' Patented Jan. 7, I902.

L. N. SINGIN.

cAn COUPLING. 7

(Application filed July 1'7, 1901.)

(No Modem nntomrm. wuumurau, a a

Fries,

LOUIS N. SINGIN, OF WVALLS, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,470, dated January'7, 1902.

Application filed July 17, 1901.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS N. SINGIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at \Valls, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and use :ful Improvements inCar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification,

My invention relates to that class of carcouplings in which thelocking-pin is supported by a sector geared with the knuckle and inwhich the parts are manipulated from the side or platform; and myinvention consists in the construction and combination of partshereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is an end view of a car and a coupling, illustrating myinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the coupling, partlyin section, showingthe pivoted connection between the drawhead and draw-bar; and Fig. 3 isa side view of the coupling and pivoted connection.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a coupling-head or draw-headsupported at the end of the draw-bar B, beneath the car, the draw-bar Bbeing shown by way of illustration between draft-timbers O on the bottomof the car and suitably supported, the coupling-head projecting beyondthe front beam or cross-sill.

The coupling-head A is constructed like that of the Janney coupler inits conformation, to the longer fork 1 of which is pivoted the knuckleD. This coupling-hook has connected with it a toothed sector 2, whichgears with another toothed sector 3 within the coupling-head and securedto a shaft at, passing vertically through the coupling head, the sector3 serving to support the locking-pins 5, all substantially as in theconstruction shown in my Letters Patent Nos. 497,930 or 570,211.

In order that I may operate the parts from the side of the car or fromeither side of the car to lift the locking-pin and open or close thecoupling-hook or knuckleD, I make use of suitable appliances for liftingthe pin 5 and for turning the shaft 4, as hereinafter described, themeans for thus operating the parts constituting a part of my invention,which is more particularly an improvement over the construction shownand described in Serial No 68,646. (No model.)

my Patent No. 636,361, granted to me November 7, 1899.

In connection with my improved means for operating the parts from theside of the car my present invention includes an improved coupling-headand pivoted connection of the draw-bar therewith and means for turningthe coupling-head on its pivot operated from the side of the car.

In Fig. 1, E represents an operatingshaft, consisting of a plurality ofsections shown as formed with threesectionsabc,andthisshaftE is adaptedto operate the locking pin 5 through arocking motion of the shaft. Thecentral section I) is supported on the car by supports d e and ispreferably formed hollow throughout, with a central bore f, angular incross-section. This central portion 1) is also preferably looselysupported by the supports d (2, so thatit may turn therein aboutalongitudinal axis. Suitable connection is made between the section I)and locking-pin 5, shownin this instance as a link 6 between thelocking-pin and a projection 7 on thesection b, so that when theoperatingshaftEis rocked thelocking-pin 5 will be correspondingly raisedor lowered. The two end sections a c are supported to be movedlongitudinally with reference to the central section b and are soconnected with this central section that they-will rock about alongitudinal axis therewith. Any suitable means may be adapted foraccomplishing this purpose; but I have shown substantially the samemeans disclosed in my prior patent, No. 636,361, before referred to. Asshown, I provide the sections a c with angular ends a, which may besquare in cross-section, which ends are adapted to slide withintheangular openings in the central section b, but to turn therewithabout a longitudinal axis. In my former application referred to thelockingpin and parts of the coupling could only be operated from oneside of the car, but in the construction herein disclosed the parts maybe operated from either side of the car.

Suitable connections are provided whereby the parts of the couplingmaybe opened and closed by means of the operating-shaft, and in thisinstance I have provided connections, shown as arms or bars 10, eachpivotallyconnected at one end to lever-arms 11 on the pin or knuckleshaft 5, while at the other ends there are formed sockets, shown asblocks F, having a cylindrical bore formed with angular sockets 12. Thesections a 0 pass through the blocks F, and in one position of thesesections (t c a rocking motion may be given to them, and they may at thesame time slide through the blocks F. Shoulders 13 are provided on thesections a 0, shown of angular form, to fit the sockets 12, so that whenthe shoulders 13 are passed within the sockets 12 the shaft may not berocked, but will be held in any desired position as to hold thelocking-pin in a raised position. Projections 14 are also shown upon thesections a o, the functions of which will hereinafter appear, whilesuitable supports 15 are provided for the outer ends of the outersections a 0.

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, when two carsare coupled the operating-shaft E is turned to lift the projection 7 toraise the locking-pin 5. The shaft E is then pushed inward in thedirection of the arrow to carry the shoulder 13 on whichever section a cis being operated into a socket 12, in which case the shaft will beprevented from turning and the locking-pin will be held in its upperposition. \Vhen the cars separate to be uncoupled, the locking-pinhaving been raised as described, the knuckle D swings outward and thesector 3 rotates, pushing the rods 10 in the directions of the ar rowsand carrying the sockets or blocks F and the sections CL 0 of the shaftE outward. In this case the locking-pin 5 cannot descend, both becausethe shaft E is prevented from turning by the blocks F and because thesector 3 is below the locking-pin. \Vhenanother car is brought towardthe coupling-head A, the knuckle coming in contact with knuc kle Bswings it inward, and the rods 10 are then drawn inward, carrying theblocks F at their ends away from the shoulders 13, so that when thesector 3 passes from below the locking-pin 5 the latter can at oncedescend and lock the parts in their places.

In my former application a crank-handle was shown at the end of theoperating-shaft, which crank-handle projected beyond the side of thecar, and one of the objects of my present invention is to provide animprovement on this handle. \Vhere the bent ends of the operating-shaftare formed as cranks, there'is a liability of breaking or bending themif they are in certain positions when two cars come together and theends of the crank-handles may be knocked in such manner as to interferewith the adjustment of the parts. As herein shown the outer ends of thesections a o are bent at substantially right angles, and the ends of thebent portions it may, if desired, be suitably flattened, as at g, whichflattened portions are adapted to enter recesses in suitable handles '5.The handles t' are loosely pivoted, as by bolts or pins 70, to the bentportions h, so that when the shaft E is rocked by means of the handlesand the bent portions h are raised, for instance, the handles 01 willnot project therefrom, but will hang down, while at the same time, owingto the solid portion Z of the handle across the recess which fits overthe reduced portion the handle may be raised in prolongation of theportion h and the solid portion Z may be pressed thereon to obtainleverage. By my construction of handles it will be seen that they arenot readily broken by one car strik ing against another, nor are theyliable to be struck by passing objects to disarrange the parts of thecoupling.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, I have provided, in conjunction withsubstantially the same car-coupling as shown and described in my formerpatent, No. 497,930, a pivoted connec tion between the coupling-head Aand drawbar B to allow a certain amount of play between thecoupling-head and the draw-bar, as shown, there being a vertical pivotallowing lateral play of the coupling-head.

I prefer to provide the draw-bar with jaws B, having perforations, whileI provide the coupling-head A with a suitable perforated neck adapted tofit within the jaws, while a suitable pivot-pin A is shown passingthrough the jaws and neck, so that the coupling-head may have lateralplay. My construction is adapted to pivot the coupling-head within theedge of the car, while at the same time allow ing of sufiicient lateralmovement opposite the complemental coupling, so that one or bothdraw-heads may be always brought in position for coupling regardless ofthe angle at which the trucks may be standing on a curve. In ordinaryconstructions the usual draftbeams C, more particularly in freight-cars,are relatively close together beneath the car, while their other ends 0extend substantially to the edge of the car, and with a pivoted couplinghead of the usual construction, wherein the shank or neck connected tothe head is of about the same width as the drawbar to which it ispivoted, it is necessary to locate the pivot beyond the edge of the carin order to obtain lateral play between the draft-timbers, as-otherwiseit will readily be seen that almost no lateral movement could beobtained. On the other hand, my conv struction enables me to pivot thecouplinghead within the edge of the car, and at the same ti me allowlateral play between the drafttimbers, the rear portion only of thedrawbar having a bearing on the draft-timbers.

In order to accomplish the end in view, I make the neck D, preferablyformed integral with the coupling-head A, of substantially narrowerwidth than that ofthe draw-bar, so that the pivot may be located withinthe edge of the car or behind the sill and need not be placed beyond thecar. This construction will cause the coupling-head to be hung close tothe draft-beams or close to the edge of the car, as usual; but onaccount of the narrowness of the neck there will be room for substantiallateral play between the neck and IIU the draft-beams. My constructionmay be used on any car, regardless of the size or shape of thedraft-beams. Anysuitable construction of neck may be provided; but Ihave shown a solid neck with shoulders 0 in which the height is greaterthan the width at the part adjacent the coupling-head, while a tongue Cextends between the jaws B.

It is desirable to be able to cause lateral movement of thecoupling-head A by means independent of any movement of the car, and itis desirable to be able to adjust the position of the coupling-head sothat a coupling maybe made, for instance, on a curve. This operationmay'be carried out by the means already described for operating theparts of the couplingas, forinstance,while the coupling-pin 5 is stillinits lower position and the parts of the coupling are locked in theposition shown in Fig. 2 by pulling upon one of the outer sections a c aprojection 14 will engage a block F and a continued pulling will causethe rod 10 to turn the coupling-head. In other words, the coupling-headwill be bodily pulled to one side or the other of the center, accordingto which section a c is operated. Suitable means may also be providedconnected to the rods 10, shown as auxiliary handles 0, and it willreadily be seen that by grasping one of the handles 0 and pulling uponthe rod 10 the block F may engage with the projection 13, which wouldmerely slide an outer section outward; but the direct pull upon the rod10 would directly pull the coupling-head A to one side or the other. Itwill also be seen that with my apparatus the locking-pin 5 may beraised, the projection 13 may be pushed into the socket 12, thusmaintaining the locking-pin in araised position, then by pulling uponone of the rods 10 the knuckle D will first be thrown wide open, andthen by continued pulling upon a rod 10 the draw-head A will be bodilypulled to one side, or by pushing upon a rod 10, the parts being in thecondition described, and by holding handle 2' to keep the locking-pin 5raised the coupling-head A may be pushed in the opposite direction.

I do not herein claim a d raw-head pivotally connected to the engagingsection of a drawbar, the draw-head having a neck and the draw-barhaving jaws by means of which pivotal connection is made, the neck beingsolid and substantially narrower than the engaging section of thedraw-bar, as I understand that I cannot claim this subject-matter in thepresent application; but I reserve the right to make it thesubjectmatter of a separate application.

lVithout limiting myself to the precise details of construction hereinshown and de scribed, I claim, and desire to obtain by Letters Patent,the following:

1. The combination with the draw-head, its knuckle, knuckle-shaft andlocking-pin, of a sectional operating-shaft comprising three sections, aconnection between one section and the locking-pin, connections betweenthe knuckle-shaft and the other two sections, said connections havingblocks integral therewith, and angular sockets in said blocks to receiveangular shoulders upon said two sect ions, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a draw-l1ead, its knuckle, knuckle-shaft, andlocking-pin of a coupling, of an operating-shaft comprising threesections, the center section connected to the locking-pin, the two outersections connected to the knuckle-shaft, the outer ends of said sectionsbeing bent at an angle, and handles for operating the shaft pivoted tothe bent portions of said sections, substantially as described. I

3. In a coupling, the combination of an operating-shaft extending acrossthe end of a car, the ends of said shaft being bent at an angle beyondthe sides of the car, handles for operating the shaft pivoted to thebent portions thereof and extending in substantial alinement with saidbent portions, substantially as described.

4. In a coupling the combination of an operating-shaft thereforextending across the end of a car and having its ends bent atsubstantially right angles beyond the sides of the car, handles havingrecesses within which the bent ends of the operating-shaft are pivoted,said handles extending in prolongation of said bent portions,substantially as described.

5. The combination with the draw-head, its knuckle, knuckle-shaft andlocking-pin, of an operating-shaft comprising a plurality of sections,one section connected with the lockin g-pin and the other sectionsconnected with the knuckle-shaft, and means for operating said shaftconsisting of oscillating handles having recesses fitting over bentportions of said other sections, and a pin connecting the handles tosaid bent portions of the sections, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the draw-head, its knuckle, knuckle-shaftandlocking-pin of a coupling, of an operating-shaft comprising threesections, the central section connected to the locking-pin, barsconnected to arms on the knuckle-shaft, blocks on the ends of the barsintegral therewith embracing the two outer sections of theoperating-shaft, means for rocking said shaft, and means for moving theouter sections longitudinally relative to the centralsection,substantially as described.

7. The combination with the draw-head, its knuckle, knuckle-shaft andlocking-pin, of a draw-bar, a pivotal connectionbetween the draw-headand drawbar, and means connected to the knuckle-shaft for moving thedraw-head laterally to one side or the other of the center,substantially as described.

8. The combination with the draw-head, its knuckle, knuckle-shaft andlocking-pin, of a draw-bar, a pivotal connection between the draw-headand draw-bar, an operating-shaft comprising three sections, the twoouter ones being slidable with relation to the central one,

arms connected to the outer sections and knuckle-shaft, handles on saidouter sections, and auxiliary handles on said arms for turning the headlaterally on its pivot, substantially as described.

9. The combination with the draw-head, its knuckle, knuckle-shaft andlocking-pin, of a draw-bar, pivotal connection between the draw-head anddraw-bar, an operating-shaft comprising three sections, the two outerones being slidable with relation to the central one, but adapted torock therewith, arms connected to the outer sections and theknuckleshaft, and means on the outer sections for actuating said arms tomove the draw-head laterally on its pivot, substantially as described.

10. The combination with the draw-head ,its

knuckle, kn tickle-shaft and locking-pin, of a draw-bar, a pivotalconnection between the draw-head and draw-bar, an operating-shaftcomprising three sections, the two outer ones being slidahle withrelation to the central one but adapted to be rocked therewith, aconnection between the central section and the locking-pin, armsconnected to the outer sections and the knnckleshaft, and means formoving said arms directly to turn said drawhead on its pivot,substantially as described. In testimony whereof I have signed my nameto this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS N. SINGIN. Witnesses:

H. G. OGDEN, Jr., W. CLARENCE DUVALL.

